The Golf GTI is a little smaller and sharper than the Octavia RS, but the two cars share the same heart.

The Volkswagen group's turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder engine is at the core of both models, which produce identical peak outputs of 162kW and 350Nm.

Skoda's front-wheel-drive sports sedan is also available as a diesel, or in wagon trim, and like the Golf offers a choice of six-speed manual or DSG automatictransmissions.

The Octavia is a bigger, more practical car than its Volkswagen sibling. Its 2680mm wheelbase is six centimetres longer than the Golf's, and the sedan's boot can carry a 188 litres more than its German cousin.

It feels brisk on the road, with plenty of urge throughout the rev range.

The strong torque delivery across a broad rev range and strong outputs give drivers the flexibility to choose third gear and stick with it on demanding roads, though shift paddles for the DSG auto make changing gears a breeze.

The only element missing from the petrol model's driveline is a sense of occasion, with the GTI's snap-crackle-and-pop soundtrack notably absent.

The Octavia RS is also available in a diesel model that trades efficiency at the expense of performance, combining 135kW and 380Nm outputs with official 5.2L/100km economy that shades the petrol car's 6.4L/100km fuel use.

We sampled the car in NSW's Snowy Mountains, where its urge and dynamics were a delight on a snaking route near Mount Kosciusko.

The Octavia RS has lower and stiffer suspension than the regular Octavia, along with 225mm-wide Bridgestone tyres and bigger brakes.

Skoda's engineers worked to give the car excellent body control that retains its composure over a range of surfaces and speeds.

The car has alert, direct steering that allows drivers to place it with accuracy, allowing keen drivers to push on when the time is right.

The Octavia misses out on the GTI's adjustable shock absorbers, but does not feel underdone in the damping department.

Skoda expects the majority of customers to choose the petrol RS. Those who do will save $1000 and be rewarded by a more confident car that feels more resolved over undulations and in the bends.

It is much sharper than the diesel car, and has extra grunt to make the most of its dynamic advantage.

Both models had noticeable amounts of wind noise, with the petrol car proving more quiet on the road.

On the inside, Skoda has imbued the Octavia's cabin with a sporty theme from top to bottom, with black headlining and stainless steel sports pedals proving points of difference over the regular car.

It also has supportive RS-branded sports seats along with branding on the steering wheel and gear selector.

All three of those are finished with decorative red stitching, while carbon-look and gloss-black trim contribute to its sporting intent.

An 8.0-inch touchscreen with standard satellite navigation is hooked up to a capable stereo, but audiophiles may want to wait until mid-year to pair their car with an optional tech pack that features a 10-speaker, 570-watt Canton stereo along with driver aids such as a reversing camera and active cruise control.

Ergonomics up front are excellent and the Octavia has reasonable space in the rear, though taller passengers may prefer the wagon version.

With impressive features and dynamics building on a $5000 price advantage over its Golf GTI sibling, the Octavia RS has the potential to put a twist in Volkswagen's performance car plot.

5 comments so far

rattle rattle... boom

Commenter

Jet Chicken

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March 18, 2014, 8:59PM

Nice looking car, good output and economy, and decently priced. I would have thought they would have pulled their finger out a bit and had the mid-year extras available for earlier sales. This seems to happen all too often and impatient people (like me) sometimes change their mind and buy something else rather than wait. Haste sometimes makes waste, but, also, life is too short.

Commenter

Wilbur

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March 18, 2014, 10:51PM

David. How was the manual? Pedal position? Fun or a chore?

Commenter

Busker

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March 19, 2014, 9:06AM

Busker, we drove two cars at launch, a petrol DSG sedan and diesel DSG wagon.

Skoda expects 90 per cent of RS customers to choose the DSG, so the majority of cars there were fitted with the auto. We'll try to get a manual car for testing at a later date.

Commenter

David McCowen

Location

Date and time

March 19, 2014, 9:58AM

It still looks way too bland and anonymous. A hot hatch for accountants. no wonder they expect everyone to buy an auto.